After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to pursue my Doctor of Ministry (DMin). For those who know me, I’m a learner (my StrengthsFinder assessment got it wrong and said I wasn’t) and I find great joy in the process of learning. I’m a voracious reader and I approach every situation as an opportunity to learn. My mom told me when I was young, “you can learn from everyone.” As I’ve gotten older, I’ve experienced the truth and beauty in this statement and it has enabled me to see value in every person…no doubt, some are much wiser than others but everyone has something to offer.

Over time, I’ve learned that I retain information more efficiently when I learn in community. Through the process of receiving and experiencing input within the context of community, both the input and the experience are sharpened through the communal and dynamic reflection on what we are learning. Blogs that allow comments are a case in point. It is in the interaction and dialogue that the real magic happens.

Because of this, and my desire to be a more effective leader, I am planning on joining a small community of people who I can embark on this journey together. In educational circles, this small community is referred to as a “cohort” and is somewhere between 10-30 people.

Most DMin programs that provide a learning experience within the context of a cohort last about 3-5 years. The idea is that you go through the program with the same group of people, each bringing experience and knowledge to the table, and greater learning is accomplished than if you were to take the classes on your own.

The fact that I want to pursue a DMin is clear.

However, where to enroll is a little foggy.

I received my MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. Absolutely loved it…and they have a reputable and well-known DMin program. Just this year, NT Wright, Dallas Willard, Alan Hirsch, Richard Mouw, and Chap Clark are just a sampling of the professors teaching within the DMin at Fuller. All-star lineup indeed. See the course catalog coming up…it’s great!

However, a few have advised me that getting my DMin at Fuller will be like repeating my MDiv experience at Fuller but with more papers to write. Friends tell me, “Branch out…get varying perspectives.” True, when I look at the required reading for each class, I own and have read 80% of the books already.

So, I’ve consider branching out. I Google: “top DMin programs,” “best seminaries,” and even “which school should I go to get my DMin.” None, especially the last, helped all that much.

I’ve consulted friends, mentors, and many of the school’s websites.

I’ve checked out:

Biblical Seminary (Ed Stetzer and Andy Crouch are a draw)

Denver Seminary

Drew University (no, I can’t get a discount because I share names with the founder)

Duke Divinity School (no DMin but they have a ThD…means I’d have to quit my job and become a resident student)

Gordon-Conwell (in conjunction with the Arrow Leadership Program)

King’s College London (I like how they spell Doctorate and Programme)

Regent University

United Theological Seminary

If you have enough time…you can peruse through the entire list of schools that have a DMin accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.

After spending hours researching each schools philosophy of education, theological values, areas of concentration, faculty, notable alumni, program design, and cost….the one seminary that is peaking my interest at the moment is:

George Fox Evangelical Seminary

I was initially recommended to George Fox by my friend and former boss, Lars Rood who also blogs at Relevant Pew. He is wrapping up his DMin at George Fox and he highly recommends it. (He’s even offered to write one of my letters of recommendations…thanks bud.)

Of the two areas of concentration, the DMin in Leadership in Emerging Cultures immediately caught my eye.

In their own words, they describe the program:

The Leadership in Emerging (LEC) DMin track explores the character and shape of effective Christian leadership in the emerging culture.

The LEC DMin track features an approach to “academics” that engages a variety of venues that are experiential, participatory, image-driven, and connective (EPIC). It utilizes a mentor-based, cohort-driven model that values “relationship.” As such, faculty, staff and cohort peers comprise the “heart” of the program.

The delivery system includes participation in several conferences, personal mentoring by Dr. Sweet and select faculty advisors, online interactivity with cohort members and professors, three “advance” experiences, as well as reading, reflection, research, and writing.

So after all my research, why am I interested in this program?

  1. Opportunity to study under Dr. Leonard Sweet
  2. The program design is a healthy mix of face to face learning, experiential learning, mentor-based learning, and online distance learning.
  3. I am deeply passionate about the topics addressed in the majority of the classes.
  4. The concentration is in an area that I believe I have the most room for growth – leadership.
  5. The dissertation can be completed in very creative ways. (See below)

There are 2 tracks for the Dissertation…the first track is a traditional dissertation that is a 100-150 paper.

BUT, the second track can be completed in a variety of ways. They describe as follows:

Len Sweet contends that leaders in the emerging culture must master communication in at least four media forms: print, image, audio, and the internet. To that end, students are given a second option for completing their projects:

Track 02: This approach allows students (individually or in teams) to implement a project in one of the four media forms that incarnates a practical, real-world solution to a stated ministry problem. It also includes a “written statement” of 45-60 pages that incorporates rigorous investigation, clarity and coherence of thought and quality of writing, and delineates the biblical, theological and theoretical framework that underpins the multimedia project.

For me, this is exactly what I was looking for.

HOWEVER, today I received an email from Jason Clark (who also contributes to the Deep Church blog) confirming that George Fox is on the verge of approving a new DMin cohort led by Jason. He describes the DMin in Global Missional Leadership that he has submitted to George Fox on his blog. Besides the focus of the degree (which looks fantastic), I am very excited at the international focus. In fact, the three face to face gatherings are each on three different continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia. (We’ll see what the total cost of the degree is when it gets approved)

So much to consider over the next few months as I get closer to application deadlines!

So, now that I’ve opened up my process for determining where to go to get my DMin, what are your thoughts? What am I missing? Do you have a DMin experience that you’d like to share?

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